RKayne's Blog
RKayne's posts about: bonsai
Nov 8, 2007 | 3:04 PM PST
Tags: Tomatoes , basil , oregano , sage , thyme , dahlia , hydrangea , radish seed , alpine strawberries , yellow rose , bees , Parsley , cotoneaster , Japanese Elm , Japanese Maples , bonsai , Storm
So we had an amazing wind storm not that long ago. We even cleaned up the yard and battened down the hatches, so to speak. Got all the potted stuff down in a protected spot (will be the winter spot too!) and all the furniture and our bikes nice and tidy and close...
Max is a dumb cat, I love him so but he is CRAZY. The wind started blowing HARD but it was not raining yet so I decided to give him some outside time. Nut job goes running around with the WILD KAT look in his eyes. You know the drill...run run run...mad dash...STOP! look around madly with flashing eyes.
He does not have that collar anymore, little jerk keeps losing them. This time was the worst as it had his license and a name tag. Jerk.
Then he did this and I was thinking 'Ain't he cute!'. As you can see all the brown in him, he snuck in as a regular cat and once he was established he is letting the Maine Coon out.
Then he FLEW over to one of the cedars and ran on the roof. Not happy. Wasn't happy a bit. He had no clue how windy it was, and how fast he could fly off! So I ended up standing in the raised bed while he teased me by coming to the edge when I was whistling and calling and finally came down so I promptly tossed him inside! Jerk. Cute, fuzzy, lovable jerk. My wife calls this shot 'fluffy butt'.
So, on to the destruction,
The dahlia. It took one hell of a beating...
My tomatoes, oh dear, my poor Black Prince...
The radishes I let bolt? So close to get my seed? Not a chance in hell. The wind snapped every single one of them and it was going so well. They would have had SO much seed. Damn. I had a fit and went ahead and cleared them out. They are now mulch. See all those seed heads? I don't even want to look.
So, upset as I was, daunted by the greenery that needs to be cut, tossed...all of the above, I started looking around. I have pretty much missed the nice fall foliage that so many are harping on as our nicely colored leaves have been passing us at about 90 MPH. I looked at my Bonsai and had to take another glance (and pictures!) as they are most gorgeous! Here is one where I took two different breeds and literally wrapped the Female around the Male to create a piece I call 'co-dependence'. hehe. Her color is amazing! He has just started to change a bit.
And one of my favorites, these are all about 4-5 yrs old. Such a nice yellow! Guess we have to keep our trees behind a wall in order to be able to see the colors!
The Japanese Elm has lost most of its leaves so gets to show off it's corkscrew nicely!
And the Cotoneaster is showing off it's berries, the wind took off a lot of them but it still has a few ;)
Then I notice the thyme and sages, how happy they are...it has finally cooled down enough for them.
And yes, I will get in there and weed them!
My herb pot looked a little unhappy, then I looked closer and changed my mind when I saw the flowers :D
The Parsley is happy finally, it does NOT like it hot-hot-hot, haha!
I come out of the garden area and see this, a cool little volunteer. One of the great things about a rental is you really don't know what is there so it is always a surprise
Yes, I know the buggers next to it have to go, lol. I *promise* LMAO!
Heading up the hill I see the dahlia in a different light...and that bush behind it? Never stopped flowering, it was leggy, like 8 ft tall and I cut the bejeezus out of it. So it flowered and has not stopped since early spring. Oh how the honey bees and bumble bees love it!
Then I look over and see that the yellow rose our youngest decided to trim this summer, with a toy sword *eek!* gave us something.
I look to the left and see fall colors on the hydrangea with a guest that really set it off!
Much better mood. What can I say, there is good in everything...I think. Excepting our present government, hehe. I decided to FINALLY plant the alpine strawberries that have been floundering and mocking me continuing to flourish despite my treatment of them. They will be great here, this spot is full of bulbs so is interesting for about 5 minutes then Blah.
So, we lost power, had to toss a blanket over the lizard cage. It was cold and windy, rainy and the power cut off while my non tv watching butt was in the middle of Grays Anatomy. I will not get radish seed this year from my crop. My tomatoes are a mess...the dahlia is half broken and the yard is a basic mess. A basic beautiful mess!
Oct 9, 2007 | 11:49 AM PST
Tags: Nigerian Coffee , bonsai
I put one of my Nigerian Coffee trees in the perfect pot. When I got them, they were suppose to be one, but they one ended up being seven...see all those trunks?
So I had to separate them!
So...I have to bonsai at least ONE of them...right?
Jul 19, 2007 | 11:14 AM PST
Tags: Orange Tree , bonsai
Well, it has been a little bit of time and I feel great! Those first couple of days were hard. All I could say was OW, that was a lot...more than I anticipated. Those smug bonsai, the Japanese Maples...the Elm...that Cotoneaster, they didn't really tell me how MUCH was involved!
But now I am HERE! I look forward to the day I get my own special pot. I know my gardener will wait until she sees something very special for me and it might sit and wait but it will be all mine!
This is what happened, I don't remember it much because I was sedated but she
told me all about it.
First off it seems I had a little brother or sister so an emergency pot had to be gotten!
After taking out my sibling I got packed back in my pot. It will be at least 6 months before I get my own bonsai pot, I will be inside by then because I know the winters are a bit harsh here for my tender leaves!
Once we got done with that I got repotted and cut and wired...I am told that it will probably be a year, but then I get to be true bonsai, with my own special pot! It may be sooner, it depends on the rate of my root growth...I am gonna try REAL hard to grow FAST! Because I am a fast grower, I got a really loose coil for my first bend. I am happy about that I really don't want any scars!
Jul 12, 2007 | 8:31 AM PST
Tags: bonsai , japanese maple , repotting , bonsai tools , root hormone powder
Well, here I am in my new home! It was a quick operation for which I was grateful. I don't like being out of a pot long and this, well, it made me feel a little naked! First I got taken out of the pot and almost all my roots exposed (see me blushing!)...
Then they got CUT OFF..even my tap root...that was weird! I got root hormone powder on them to help them heal and grow again. There is not much room in my new pot but I don't mind, the Elm and Cotoneaster tell me it will just be 'Cozy'.
Then I got put in my pot and got some new soil (YAAY!) and a trim and some wire, it has been years since I got wired, this was a little one compared to what I have had done in the past!
One little coil was all I needed, I had a 'wild branch' that wanted to go one way and we wanted it to go the other way! This is 16 ga. copper.
And here I am wired, before being bent...
And here I am, done...I really like it in this pot, but I was told I can have a pot just like this one that will be more plain (I like the grapes design...but my gardener thinks they are hideous!).
Some people think you need REALLY expensive tools to do this with, but not really. You just have to have a few basic tools. My gardener uses these, predominately. A simple pair of hair cutting scissors (gets in nice to trim close in small areas), a pair of flat wire nips (no sharp edges), a pair of needlenose pliers and a ring winder like the one you saw above. Simple, and found at any decent craft store at minimal cost. That way you have more cash to play with for pots...soil...trees....LOL!
Jun 27, 2007 | 2:19 PM PST
Tags: Japanese Maple , Japanese Elm , Orange Tree , Bonsai
Well, while my brethren beside me, Orange and Japanese Elm, have their own things going this weekend, I get to do something VERY exciting!!! I Get potted! I get to have my very own bonsai pot. I have waited over 3 years for this to happen and now I get to have it!! YAAAY! I have been very compliant and a happy grower this whole time thinking 'pick me! pick me!' and now is my time. For the last year I have felt like a bonsai, I have looked like a bonsai...down to making sure I have a nice, natural mossy ground cover, but there was the 'pot thing'. I will make sure they get pictures for I am very happy I get my pot!!! After I get potted I will be getting a trim, but not to downplay Japanese Elm, it is nothing like that...just a few clips here and there!
Jun 27, 2007 | 2:14 PM PST
Tags: Japanese Elm , bonsai , Trim
Hi, I am 'Japanese Elm'. I was once just a regular tree but someone looked at me and said, Bonsai... you must be. Here I am and enjoying the new 'digs'. I have gotten a little happy though and been getting a tad 'leggy' so I am scheduled for a haircut this weekend. I am looking forward to it as I have been feeling a bit 'full' lately! I understand there will be a photo journal of my cut :D
Jun 27, 2007 | 2:08 PM PST
Tags: Orange Tree , Clover , Bonsai
Hi, my name is 'Orange Tree'. That's my new pal, 'Clover' behind me. I know this is a good home when someone realizes the importance of clover! I have been promised a glorious future. As my new owner, RKayne has taken note...I am taking very quickly to my new home, I love it here in this new pot that is SO much bigger than the one I lived in for so long. I know I don't get this pot forever so I am taking advantage of it and growing very fast, she put me in this pot about a week ago and I already have new growth sprouting all over. The ploy worked and she took notice of my very fine efforts. Guess what? I get to start training to be a bonsai this weekend! I am so proud, wonder what my parents would think. Maybe the old grove owner will see my progress and let them know! RKayne told me she would take a photo journey of my progress so this weekend you get to see what becomes of me, I know this won't be easy but I am eager to join the ranks of some of the finest trees on this planet, Bonsai!
Jun 22, 2007 | 1:47 PM PST
Tags: Orange , Tangerine , Key Lime , Lemon , Bonsai
Have to get pics, have more on the way...My Mom got me tree's for my Birthday! So far, I have an Orange, Tangerine, Key Lime, and BONUS Lemon. I say BONUS because I unplug it last night to pot it, and go 'Hm, that's odd'...and get an *emergency* pot...it had a little one next to it. So I go to plant it again, after potting the little guy. Think...'Hm, that's odd'...and get ANOTHER emergency pot. I have 3 Lemon tree's! WOO HOO! These are all bound to be bonsai.
I will put up pics soon as I take them!
Thanks Mom!
Jun 12, 2007 | 3:34 PM PST
Tags: Japanese Maple , Wisteria , Bonsai , Strawberries
So, tis the season for Bonsai to look great! Decided to have an update on how they are doing. 
Needs a trim, hehe...
One of the Wisterias...
One of my Favorite Japanese Maples (almost 4 yrs old)
Babies...and strawberries that are going in the ground tonight!
May 25, 2007 | 1:21 PM PST
Tags: Basil , Provencal , Spicy Globe , Mini Roses , Daisy , Japanese Maples , Bonsai
I got POTS I got pots, all so many empty pots....hehe...
so..what to do...PLANT STUFF! This weekend:
Basils, both Spicy Globe and Provencal (some to go to my PILE OF POTS benefactor, hehe)
Japanese Maples (have WAY too many, but now they can have their own homes as they have been living in big pots, one has like 25 in it...)
Mini Roses (we have two new ones, one for each of us Moms for Moms day, mine is pink, hers is red)
Daisy (of a variety I have no damn clue, but is sho is purty)
Now all I need is....MORE DIRT! WOOT!
Another good thing is I have several Bonsai that need to be repotted, so this will help with that as well.
Apr 30, 2007 | 2:15 PM PST
Tags: Pieris Japonica , Japanese Aucuba , lilac , tulips , cherry , bonsai
OK, so I am not sure what flowering tree is what, as I have ID'd the east coast ones, they are not the same here! I have a couple nice trees in my yard, I think at least one is a cherry LOL and I have a lilac as well as a Pieris Japonica, Japanese Aucuba, and now a place for my Bonsai besides them being scrunched all on a patio. I like the tulips but must figure out what to put there that will be appreciated year round (and cheap...this IS a rental).
p>
Apr 6, 2007 | 1:35 PM PST
Tags: frost , bonsai , pot , rock , project , wisteria , rock layering
So, this is what I am going to do during the course of the year, my BIG project for the year. I am going to take THIS rock :
And I am going to put one of these White Wisteria Bonsai on it:
I have two of them that are cascading over and don't know which one to do it to. What I need to do is take the one I want and put it in a DEEP pot for awhile, then take it OUT of the pot and put it on the rock where I want it (towards the bottom in a crevice) with a bit of peat in the crease of the rock and the roots all over the place, haha. Then I will bury the whole thing in course sand for about a year. Then it will be ready...not a slow project but I can already see it in my head and am thinking it could be less than a year as I decided to use wisteria. I have had this rock for almost 5 years now waiting for the right project, so I know it is frost proof.
Apr 4, 2007 | 4:29 PM PST
Tags: tomato , juniper , rhododendron , vegetable , garden , bonsai , landscape , japanese maple , yard , plant , sun
So it may be a rental, but it does have a garden area. Looks like we have decided to take the more expensive place, but we will have room to vegetable garden and I will have plenty of space to keep my Bonsai's. The only real downfall of the 'mature landscaping' is it has massive junipers and rhododendrons. Not particularly my favorite, and I will not have much option on how the yard looks...it does have two fireplaces and a great kitchen ( I GET GAS!!!) I do like the setup, but really REALLY wish it had a master bathroom. The boys will HAVE to use the downstairs bathroom because we are NOT going to have to clean the bathroom every five minutes in case someone drops by ;) Good news is the side of the house that has the veggy patch is in FULL sun, so I may be one of the only people who has ever had success with tomatoes in the Seattle area! If we get this house, I will so be taking pictures! Maybe I will be able to talk them into letting me plant one of my Japanese Maple Bonsai's...set it FREE, it would be such a boon to a yard as 'simple' as this one is, at this time.
Apr 4, 2007 | 4:05 PM PST
Tags: bonsai , tree , japanese maple , cutting , repotting , Seattle
I have a couple Japanese Maples set aside for MamabearBSA and Mainegal because they cost SO much away from here (Seattle area) that are 3 years old. They will be getting a couple baby maples as well, but I wanted to make sure they get to take something back with them that is established and there is nothing more beautiful than a Japanese Maple Bonsai! I will take pictures of them soon, as well and update...at the very least they will be able to see the tree's that are going home with them! I have some before and after pics so they get to see how drastic a cutting the tree's will take as I have been informed by them both that they are concerned about how tough they are. I will put it this way, they are 3 years old, and I am just NOW going to repot them! A bonsai, as average, will be repotted at least once a year, but Japanese Maples THRIVE on neglect! So, on that note, here are some of my Japanese Maples at three years old. I have before and after pictures with the winter growth and then their 'spring/summer coat' :D So now is where i get to tease Mamabear and Mainegal....as these are some of My personal babies, hehe...
Before :
After :
Apr 4, 2007 | 3:46 PM PST
Tags: Maple , bonsai , tree
I recently had a large amount of baby maples 'follow me home' as I love to bonsai, this is fortunate :D I love to bonsai almost any tree but for the maples there is a plan. We have a NW GTG planned and they will have future homes when I take a bunch of them down for a 'training course', an VERY quick one, albeit, but they will be happy tree's! Maples will bonsai just as readily as any other tree and can be very beautiful in the process.
